It is no surprise to learn that the demand for cosmetic surgery is ever-increasing. The Global Cosmetic Surgery Market size was valued at 49.14 Billion US dollars in 2020 and was predicted to grow to over 64.88 Billion US Dollars by 2028. From the early 2010s to the present day, the cosmetic surgery industry has seen a surge in demand. Within this time frame, social media also began its rise in popularity. With Instagram launching in 2010 and other popular apps, including Snapchat and TikTok, following suit in the years after, social media has grown massively in the past decade.

Is the rise of social media and the increased demand for cosmetic surgery simply a coincidence? As experts in all types of cosmetic enhancements, including lip fillers, we look at the effects of social media on cosmetic surgery and if the increasing popularity of the two is related.

Face Altering Apps

Perhaps the most famous for its filters, the social media app Snapchat allows users to experiment with face altering effects. Interestingly, what started with the simple ability to morph your face into fun things like a dog has quickly turned into an act more vanity based. ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ was branded a phenomenon when multiple cosmetic skin clinics found that customers were bringing in filtered selfies to form the basis of their treatments.

With social media giants such as Instagram soon following in the footsteps of Snapchat and introducing filters, the filters we now see on our social media platforms have sadly lost an element of fun. Skin smoothing, plumping lips, and slimming down facial features are the norm for most newer filters. What can be problematic is realising that the perfected and heavily altered selfie isn’t you, and this is when people turn to cosmetic surgery. The rise in treatments such as dermal fillers and botox has risen drastically over the past few years, with more clients using filtered images as their goal.

Cosmetic Surgery Advertisements on Social Media

In a recent blog, we discussed the new law that cosmetic surgery advertisements aimed at under-18s are to be banned in the UK. Though this will not come into effect until May 2022, it is a considerable step in minimising the impact of social media on the youths of today. However, for those over the age of 18, social media ads promoting cosmetic surgery can still be damaging.

As an experienced cosmetic skin clinic in Northern Ireland, Jersey, Belfast, and Guernsey, we understand the importance of being honest, informative, and non-pressuring in our adverts. However, the same cannot be said for other clinics that use social media adverts for cosmetic surgery. Targeted adverts can appear on social media multiple times a day for users and contain unrealistic information and pressuring vocabulary. This can be overwhelming to users and leave them feeling pressured into having cosmetic surgery.

We recognise the extreme importance of remaining ethical when promoting both surgical treatments and non-surgical treatments online, as cosmetic surgery should be something an individual wants to get rather than feeling pressured by society and social media.

Social Media Influencers

Over the past decade, we have seen a significant increase in demand for cosmetic surgery, with top treatments including liposuction, breast augmentation and dermal fillers in Belfast, Jersey and Guernsey. One of the leading causes for these spikes can be narrowed down to social media and the role of influencers on these platforms. Social media influencers create online content for social media platforms such as Youtube and Instagram and have a large following. Many social media influencers promote cosmetic surgery on their platforms through YouTube videos of them discussing their personal cosmetic enhancement stories as well as Instagram photos of them advertising products such as teeth whitening kits.

Social media influencers, hence the name, hold a lot of influential power over their followers. So, seeing an individual that people look up to having a procedure can encourage followers to want the procedure too. Though this is an informative way of giving people an insight into cosmetic procedures, it is best practice to listen to the experts and only pursue cosmetic treatments if it is something you want and not just because your favourite influencer has it.

The Importance of Understanding What is Real and What Has Been Altered

It is important to remember that not everything on your feed is unaltered when scrolling through Instagram or other apps. With the number of filters and photoshopping on social media, it can be hard to distinguish between what is real and what is altered. As a result, social media can create an unrealistic idea of what people naturally look like and encourage people to get cosmetic surgery for the wrong reasons.

Choosing a Professional Cosmetic Clinic

Cosmetic treatments can be an excellent solution in increasing self-confidence. Still, unfortunately, many individuals opt for cosmetic surgery through feeling pressured or suffering from mental illnesses such as body dysmorphia, and social media has a significant role in this. Therefore, when choosing cosmetic treatments, whether surgical or non-surgical, it is vital to use a professional clinic like ourselves.

With our services, we offer an initial consultation in which you can chat with one of our experienced team. Then, we guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that cosmetic treatments are the right choice for you. Our treatments include anti-wrinkle treatments in Belfast, anti-wrinkle treatments in Jersey and anti-wrinkle treatments in Guernsey.

For more information on our professional services or to speak to one of our award-winning medical staff, contact us today.